Conceit & Concealment: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

Six years after Napoleon's invasion of England. Fitzwilliam Darcy is a traitor. He even admits to collaborating with Napoleon's troops. And Elizabeth Bennet despises all traitors. But she can't make sense of Darcy. He doesn't act like a traitor. He risks his own safety to save young women from the French. And how can she despise a man who loves puppies? Something about him doesn't add up - and she finds him far too attractive.

The Falmouth Connection: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Just as Mr. Darcy finally decides to propose to the enticing Miss Elizabeth Bennet, she is summoned to Falmouth, to meet a relation she never knew she had. Thus, the ill-starred Hunsford proposal is avoided - but before he could even begin to understand his luck, adverse circumstances hasten to conspire against him, and Fitzwilliam Darcy is compelled to follow the woman he loves to the far reaches of Cornwall, into a world of deceit and peril, where few - if any - are what they seem to be...

Mr. Bennet's Dutiful Daughter: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

When Colonel Fitzwilliam's disclosures are interrupted by the bearer of distressing news from Longbourn, Miss Elizabeth Bennet is compelled to accept an offer she would have otherwise dismissed out of hand. An offer of marriage from the all-too-proud Mr. Darcy. Yet how is she to live with a husband she hardly knows and does not love?

By Force of Instinct: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

In Jane Austen's classic Pride & Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet never expects to see Mr. Darcy again after his disastrous proposal in Hunsford. But what if family business required him to stay at Rosings after giving her his letter? Coming face to face with Mr. Darcy only days later could give Elizabeth a new chance to understand him... or chance for even more misunderstandings.

Particular Intentions

Who is this Mr. Darcy and what are his intentions? Like much of Meryton, the Bennets of Longbourn anticipate the arrival of Mr. Bingley and his friends to Netherfield, yet an unexpected visitor is not a part of Mr. Bingley's or Mr. Darcy's plans. While the two gentlemen attempt to control their uninvited guest, Elizabeth Bennet arrives to tend to her ill sister.

Darcy's Awakening: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

When Darcy and Lizzy meet at the Meryton assembly, Darcy is already engaged to another woman, and Lizzy has suffered the loss of someone she once loved. How will they find their way to each other, with these obstacles, and so many more, standing in their way?

Lidia Chymkowska says:"Not much of an &quot;awakening&quot; but generally OK"

Alone with Mr. Darcy: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

Elizabeth Bennet can't imagine anything worse than being stranded by a blizzard in a tiny cottage with proud and unpleasant Mr. Darcy. But being trapped there for days - and nights - with an injured and confused Mr. Darcy who keeps saying the oddest things about her is even worse. At least he possesses the useful ability of lighting a fire to keep them from freezing to death. But when he puts his arms around her, she discovers the hearth isn't the only place he knows how to build a fire.

Mr. Darcy's Journey: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

Mr. Darcy is at his wits' end. Elizabeth Bennet, the woman he can't live without, overhears him insulting her family. Now she won't even listen to his apologies. Then his old friend Sir Anthony Duxbury tells him two of their friends are in terrible danger. If Darcy wants to help them, they have to leave for Yorkshire immediately.

Mr. Darcy's Undoing: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

What could possibly make a proper gentleman come completely undone? What if Elizabeth Bennet accepted the proposal of another before she met Mr. Darcy again? In Abigail Reynolds' bold and playful retelling of the Austen classic, a devastated Mr. Darcy must decide how far he is willing to go to win the woman he loves. Consumed by jealousy, he knows that winning her will throw them both into scandal and disgrace, but losing her is unbearable. Mr. Darcy is going to have to fight for his love, and his life. . .

Mr. Darcy's Noble Connections

There's only one fact that notorious rake Lord Charles Carlisle and his cousin, Fitzwilliam Darcy, can agree upon: a house party given by the Marquess of Bentham is bound to be intolerably dull. To relieve his boredom, Lord Charles accepts a bet that he can seduce his sister's pretty friend during their stay at Bentham Park. After all, it's easy money for an experienced seducer. Why should he care if his staid cousin Darcy disapproves?

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

What if the last man in the world she could be prevailed upon to marry...is her husband? In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Bennet tells the proud Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy that she wouldn't marry him if he were the last man in the world. But what if she never said the words? What if circumstances conspired to make her accept Darcy the first time he proposes?

Mr. Darcy's Refuge: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

The river isn't the only thing overflowing in Hunsford when a natural disaster forces Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy to work together. The residents of flood-stricken Hunsford, seeking refuge in the parsonage atop the hill, are unaware they are interrupting Darcy's disastrous proposal. Even worse, the flood has washed out the only bride to Rosings Park, stranding Darcy with the woman who has just refused his offer of marriage. But it may already be too late to redeem Elizabeth's reputation.

Rumours & Recklessness: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Fitzwilliam Darcy is desperate. Finally confronted with a woman who ignites all his hopes, he agonizes over the cruel trick of fate which placed her in a situation beneath his notice. The morning after the Netherfield ball, he resolves to put as much distance between himself and her as possible.

The Abominable Mr. Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

Mr. Darcy was an enigma, until he spoke. Then, he was the enemy. Miss Elizabeth Bennet's eyes are instantly drawn towards a handsome, mysterious guest who arrives at the Meryton Assembly with the Bingley party. The gentleman destroys her illusions by delivering an insult that turns him from Mr. Divinely Attractive to the Abominable Mr. Darcy. While Elizabeth sets in motion her strategy for retaliation, Darcy plans to win the campaign being waged in the genteel drawing rooms of Hertfordshire.

The Houseguest: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

When Georgiana Darcy comes to Netherfield to visit her brother, she becomes friends with a neighbor, Elizabeth Bennet. After Miss Darcy has returned to London, she invites her new friend to stay with her at the Darcy home in town, unbeknownst to Mr. Darcy.

Mr. Darcy's Bad Day: A Pride & Prejudice Novella

How could one simple decision change the course of a man's life? In this fast-paced novella set in Regency England, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley in Derbyshire and Darcy House in London finds himself unwillingly, or possibly willingly, attached to Miss Elizabeth Bennet. With visions of their life ahead, he presses forward until everyone in her family and his are finally convinced they are a match made in heaven. Or, are they?

Darcy and Elizabeth: Fair Trade: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

The morning after the Netherfield ball, Elizabeth Bennet refuses an offer of marriage, setting off a row in the Bennet household that ends tragically. Faced with homelessness and untenable poverty, Elizabeth receives a different sort of offer - from quite an unexpected quarter - and finds herself considering the once-inconceivable prospect of going into trade.

Her Unforgettable Laugh: A Pride and Prejudice Variation: Her Unforgettable Laugh Series, Book 1

Dark curls and an unforgettably sweet laugh were all he knew of his sister's rescuer. Later, a second glimpse showed her to be lovely, and he heard her melodious laugh again. Darcy wondered what it would be like to meet this remarkable, and remarkably lovely, young woman. Would the spirit that caused her to go to the aid of a stranger be able to bring some joy to his lonely life? Would they ever meet, or would he always be left wondering?

The Unthinkable Triangle: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

All is fair in love and war - or is it? What if Mr. Darcy's rival for Elizabeth Bennet's hand and heart is not some inconsequential stranger, but his dearest, closest friend? How is he to reconcile the claims of loyalty and kinship with the urge to pursue his heart's desire?

Compromised!: A Pride and Prejudice Variation

When Elizabeth finds Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy outside Netherfield, alone and at his most vulnerable, she must make a quick decision to bend the rules of propriety to help him or turn her back on someone in need. Her tender heart reaches out to him and his wounded one grabs hold of her well-intentioned support. Discovery changes the course of their lives as Elizabeth is forced to accept a reluctant proposal of marriage from this man whom she has just barely begun to respect.

The Honorable Mr. Darcy: A Meryton Mystery, Book 1

Lieutenant George Wickham is dead. The shot rings out in Wickham's tent as the good citizens of Meryton dance the night away at Mr. Bingley's Netherfield ball. The only person who can confirm Fitzwilliam Darcy's alibi faces the loss of her reputation and her freedom if she comes forward. Convinced that her sole motive is the pursuit of justice - and not her growing attraction to Mr. Darcy - Elizabeth Bennet begins an investigation to clear his name and evade an unwanted marriage.

Unwilling: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary

Mr. Bennet discovers his days are numbered, so he immediately begins to set his affairs - and his five unmarried daughters - in order. Knowing they will fare best should at least one of them find a suitable husband, he cannot refuse any respectable suitors. The high-spirited Elizabeth suspects something isn't right in the halls of Longbourn, but nothing prepares her for a certain haughty gentleman from Derbyshire.

Impertinent Strangers

An impertinent stranger is thrown into Fitzwilliam Darcy's path and, even though he declares her tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt him, it is all he can do not to think of her. Upon first making Mr. Darcy's acquaintance, Miss Elizabeth Bennet is quite fascinated with him. Then she discovers that the gentleman is haughty and above his company, and she wants nothing to do with him.

What Would Mr. Darcy Do?: A Pride & Prejudice Variation

There's only one gentleman to turn to when a lady is in desperate need of answers... With scandal descending on the Bennet family (again!), Elizabeth absolutely refuses to drag Mr. Darcy's name into this shocking situation. But how on earth is she going to get her family out of trouble this time without his involvement? Hiding things from Mr. Darcy is getting more and more impossible, especially since he's started letting his feelings show.

Publisher's Summary

Instead of disappearing from Elizabeth Bennet's life after she refused his offer of marriage, Mr. Darcy had stayed and tried to change her mind?

What if...

Lizzy, as she gets to know Darcy, finds him undeniably attractive and her impulses win out over her sense of propriety?

What if...

Madly in love and mutually on fire, their passion anticipates their wedding?

In To Conquer Mr. Darcy, instead of avoiding Elizabeth after his ill-fated marriage proposal, Mr. Darcy follows her back to Hertfordshire to prove to her he is a changed man and worthy of her love. And little by little, Elizabeth begins to find the man she thought she despised, irresistible....

Where does To Conquer Mr. Darcy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Having read this book many times in hard copy, I already knew I loved the story. The narrator, Elizabeth Klett, did a very good job and made it an enjoyable listen.

What other book might you compare To Conquer Mr. Darcy to and why?

I read quite a few P&P variations, and have read all of Abigail Reynolds books. It's not possible to compare it to another book other than other P&P variations, and Abigail's books rank right up there with others of the best of the genre.

What does Elizabeth Klett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Since I have read the book many times before listening to the audiobook, there could only have been a down side to her performance. I was happy that she did a good job and did not make the book more difficult to finish. Many times I have stopped listening to audiobooks because the narrator is terrible. Ms. Klett is quite good. I liked her performance better than the lady who did the other Abigail Reynolds book at audiobooks.

If you could take any character from To Conquer Mr. Darcy out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Mr. Darcy, of course, because he is Mr. Darcy and you can't get much better than that.

Any additional comments?

Abigail takes Darcy and Elizabeth's romance quite a bit further than the acceptable courtship niceties of the Regency Age; and this probably bothers many purists, but for those of us who like to believe Darcy and Lizzy as real people would have many of the same physical and emotional desires as any normal, redblooded, 20 somethings, anticipating their wedding vows can be accepted with a bit of a wink. I did feel, however, feel that Lizzy's actions before officially becoming "engaged" was a bit too much for our dear heroine. She had too much sense to let herself be carried away to that extent before she had a formal engagement. But then, it's Darcy, so who could resist?

I am not opposed to Lizzy and Darcy having normal sexual urges, but Lizzy accepting it so readily BEFORE they were officially engaged, and so many times, was just a tad stretching it for me.

This was one of the first Romance books I read. I was obsessed with Pride and Prejudice in High School. I love the "what if" idea. That Darcy goes back to Hartfordshire and tries to convince Elizabeth to marry him, They become engaged before she takes her trip to Pemberley. And Elizabeth becomes part of the plan to make Wickam marry Lydia.

What was one of the most memorable moments of To Conquer Mr. Darcy?

I really loved the the courtship scenes, and when Darcy tells Elizabeth, that even though they are not yet married by the church, he feels she is his wife. So sweet.

What about Elizabeth Klett’s performance did you like?

I really loved her interpretation

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Rather than being a variation on the original, I wish it had just picked up where Jane Austen left off. The story was ok. The dialogue at times was so cheesy, it was hard to read without laughing. If you're a true lover of P&P, you most likely will not enjoy this rendition.

Someone who doesn't bore easily and is into very insignificant details.

Would you ever listen to anything by Abigail Reynolds again?

No, I am afraid that her style is not one that I would like to experience again.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

There was a slight lisp that I have often heard in UK English which was very distracting.

What character would you cut from To Conquer Mr. Darcy?

So many I can't even begin to count. The book was filled with insignificance things including many characters.

Any additional comments?

After five hours of listening to part 1, I came back to Audible to read the reviews in hopes that I would find the reason why I was interested in this book to begin with. Given the high ratings I thought it would pick up in the second half and become exciting with some deep life altering issues. But unfortunately the second half was as predictable and boring as the first. The characters Darcy and Lizzie describe themselves as private and not allowing people even the closest relatives into their lives. Well the same is true of us the listeners. I did not care for the characters nor their story. If this was friend or relative telling me about their life in the same fashion as this book told the story of Lizzie and Darcy, I would had politely walked away faking the sudden onset of a headache. Next time I follow my instincts and stop after the first hour of torture.

This variation on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice would definitely make Miss Austen blush. It contains explicit sex whereas the original novel hardly alluded to the sexual natures of Elizabeth and Darcy. Elizabeth Klett's reading is superb; she has a perfect English accent and changes her tone of voice for the different characters. If Ms. Klett is blushing as she narrates the sex scenes, the listener will not detect it in her voice! Well-read. The author, Abigail Reynolds, has come up with an interesting and fun variation on the original Pride and Prejudice.

This book takes the beloved Jane Austen story and adds a clichéd and sometimes nauseatingly formulaic "romantic" backstory to Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy's courtship and marriage. If you believe that relationships should be all about loving murmurings and simple physical expressions of that love, you will love this. If you believe, like I do, that human relations are somewhat more complicated, don't bother with this trite story

I love Jane Austen and now Abigail Reynolds. This variation gave me a steamy look at Mr Darcy and left me wanting more. I'm hooked A. Reynolds now on to the next and the next variations. Please try your hand at Sense and Sensibility.

I would listen to this audiobook over and over again because it is incredibly compelling. And utterly believable. The story Ms Reynolds tells, could very well have happened, exactly that way. She manages to twist Ms Austen's plot in a subtle way but entirely true to the great author of romance herself.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mr Darcy, because he is so much more amiable than in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.He is more human, more pliable, more compassionate, more reasonable. He sees where his faults lie and acts accordingly to it. Which gives him what he craves for: the way to Elizabeth's heart.

Which scene was your favorite?

The first love scene in Darcy's bed. Here the two heroes are governed only by their mutual love.

Who was the most memorable character of To Conquer Mr. Darcy and why?

Mr Wickham. Ms Reynolds paints him as I would never have pictured him at all. As a man to whom money means everything, literally.

I wouldn't recommend this. How the author manages to use and twist the words of Jane Austen, almost word for word it seems at times, into this concoction of rubbishy nonsense and gets it published I don't know. Parts of Jane Austen's story are taken out of context and woven into the mishmash of Abigail Reynold's own story to make it make sense as something original, while still retaining it's connection with Pride and Prejudice. But it really isn't worth the time out of your life; you'd do better to get something written by Elizabeth Aston as she too does a Darcy collection. As for Mr Darcy he's positively sleazy and Lizzie Bennet isn't much better! The obviously American narrator however does her best to put on a strange hybrid of an English accent. As for this book I wouldn't recommend this to anyone and I don't think true Jane Austen fans would approve!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Catherine

Montefiascone, Italy

4/22/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Reynolds repeats herself again and again"

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would cut out the frequent desriptions of the sexual intercourse between Elizabeth and Darcy. Once "encounter" is more than enough in each book. I would shorten the narration by cutting out these repetitions and devote more time and space to investigating the psychology of the characters in greater depth.

Would you be willing to try another book from Abigail Reynolds? Why or why not?

I have now read/heard several of this authoress's books... She is beginning to repeat herself too much across books too.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

She might have been more relaxed ; she seems to make too much of an effort to speak with a British accent which bestows a stilted air on the whole performance. Sometimes she "hyper corrects" her pronunciation and places the wrong tonic accent on some words.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

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